Flora & Fauna

Tyto alba A distinctive and much-loved countryside bird. Normally seen hunting around dusk.

Numenius arquata The largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable by its long, downcurved bill, brown upperparts, long legs and evocative call.

Prunella modularis - the Dunnock is similar in size to the House Sparrow, though it is a sleeker bird with a fine bill. The plumage is rather drab, being a mixture of grey on the head and chest and brown elsewhere. The upperparts and flank are streaked with warm-brown tones. Dunnocks are usually seen foraging on the ground, shuffling about ‘mouse-like’ in search of food, the tail moving nervously.

Locustella naevia - Rarely seen but often heard in the reeds - reeling like a sewing machine

A tall bird with long legs, a long beak and grey, black and white feathering. They can stand with their neck stretched out, looking for food or with their neck bent over their chest.

Falco tinnunculus - a small falcon with pointed wings and a long tail which hovers when hunting

Alcedo atthis Unmistakeable bright blue and orange birds which fly rapidly, low over slow moving or still water and hunt fish from riverside perches.

Linaria cannabina The commonest finch on the course. It has an undulating flight, usually twittering as it flies.

Egretta garzetta A small white heron with attractive plumes on crest, back and chest. A winter visitor often seen near the Pow Burn.

Anthus pratensis - the archetypal “wee brown bird” of the course.

Haematopus ostralegus A distinctive black and white wader with a long orange-red bill and reddish pink legs.

Emberiza schoeniclus - sparrow-sized but slim and with a long, deeply notched tail, the male has a black head, white collar and a drooping moustache. Females and winter males have a streaked head. In flight the tail looks black with broad, white edges.

Acrocephalus schoenabaenus A summer visitor. Its song is a noisy, rambling warble.

Alauda arvensis - unmistakeable for its song of spring and summer as it floats above the course

Saxicola rubicola - a distinctive small bright bird with a black head. Often perches prominently on the tops of low bushes

Curruca communis A summer visitor with a loud abbreviated song. Can often be seen perching on a bush.

Argynnis aglaja - 58 – 68mm. Despite its name it is actually more orange than green. A strong flier it can be seen around the course from June to September

Anthocharis cardamines 45mm. The orange tip acts as a warning to predators that this butterfly is highly distasteful. Usually seen between April and June.

Aphantopus hyperantus 42 – 52mm. A common butterfly usually seen from June to August. They can be seen flying with a characteristic bobbing movement.

Coenonympha pamphilus 33 – 37mm. Seen from April to September these small butterflies on fly in sunny conditions, always settling on the ground. Their caterpillars feed on fescues and meadow grasses.

Enallagma cyathigerum Our most common damselfly is normally on the wing between April and September. The male (right) is pale blue with bands of black along the body. The female (left) is either blue or dull green with distinctive black ‘torpedo’ markings.

Libellula quadrimaculata - a medium-sized, fairly broad-bodied dragonfly. It is on the wing from May to September, sometimes even into October. It is commonly found on heathland and moorland, as well as around ponds, lakes and in woods. Four-spotted Chasers are active dragonflies, spending a lot of time hawking over water for insect-prey or to mark out their territories. They mate on the wing; the female then hovers over the water, dipping the tip of her abdomen into drop her eggs on to vegetation below the surface.

Vulpes vulpes - regularly seen around the course. Feeds on small mammals and birds.

Capreolus capreolus - Britain's most common native deer, the roe deer tends to be solitary in summer but forms small groups in winter. It has short antlers and no tail with a pale buff patch around its rump.

Mustela nivalis - the UK's smallest carnivore with a russet-brown back and a creamy white throat and belly. Smaller than a stoat and runs with a straight back.